Can’t get enough ‘Ash': ‘Evil Dead’ series gets early renewal

Bruce Campbell stars as Ash Williams, the chainsaw-handed ogre hunter (and aging lothario) who’s aided by his loyal sidekick, Pablo Simon Bolivar (Ray Santiago). The 10-episode half-hour series, set to debut on Halloween on Saturday, stars Bruce Campbell and reunites him with the original Evil Dead filmmakers Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert. Lucy Lawless (Spartacus) is also set to return in season two as Ruby, a mysterious figure who believes Ash is the cause of the evil outbreaks. “One season isn’t enough to satisfy the fans’ two decade-long appetite for more Ash,” Starz managing director Carmi Zlotnik said. “The early fan and press support, along with the international broadcaster demand for more story have made it clear that the adventures of Ash Williams can’t end with season one.” Starz, which retains domestic and international multiplatform rights, announced global licensing deals in more than 100 countries and territories worldwide as the series will premiere simultaneously around the globe. Ash joins a roster of originals that include comedy Blunt Talk — picked up straight to series for two seasons — Outlander, American Gods, Survivor’s Remorse, Havana Quartet, Power, The Girlfriend Experience, Black Sails, The Missing, The One Percent and the final season of DaVinci’s Demons. Starz, which doesn’t develop via the traditional pilot model, has a history of handing out early renewals with the cabler looking at the renewal as both a show of faith as well as a way of allowing the series to find itself.